Tasmania signs on to disability scheme

Tasmania has become the fourth state to sign up to the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

An agreement was signed in Launceston today by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Premier Lara Giddings.

New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT have all agreed to implement the NDIS by 2018.

"What this means is that by the first of July 2019 disability care will be here and operational for people in Tasmania with significant disabilities," Ms Gillard said.

It will cost the state $134 million in the transition phase.

When the full scheme begins in 2019, it will cost the state an extra $40 million a year on top of money already spent on disability services.

The Federal Government will contribute $245 million each year.

It is estimated the scheme will benefit about 11,000 Tasmanians with a significant disability.

Among those who qualify will be people with physical disabilities, profound mental problems and children with severe autism.

It will help those struggling to access housing, one-on-one support and expensive equipment.

The Premier says it is as an historic day.

She says increasing the Medicare levy to help pay for the scheme enabled Tasmania to get some relief from the financial burden.

"The levy will help offset the substantial costs to the state of funding the full NDIS, however the State Government will still be funding close to half the total cost of the scheme," she said.

"This is a reform which is about all Australians living with a disability and I hope it will not be long before we see all the other states to sign up to this critical reform.

"This reform is as big as Medicare in its day."

She says the Tasmania can contribute despite budget pressures.

The state will get about $20 million back from the Commonwealth annually.

"It will be an issue that future government's will need to fund but this is manageable," she said.

"If you are talking about an extra $20-odd million that can be done and any government, whatever political persuasion, who uses it as an excuse not to deliver for disability I believe should hang their head in shame."

The first Tasmanian stage, starting in July, will involve 1,000 people aged between 15-24.